EL FILIBUSTERISMO: CHAPTER V

“A Cochero’s Christmas Eve”

A REFLECTION PAPER

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

In the Subject of GE1804

Rizal's Life and Works

In this chapter it explores that, On a Christmas Eve, Basilio was about to go to San Diego.
1
According to (Estrella, 2019), The traditional Christmas Eve feast is referred to as the “Noche Buena,”

which is Spanish for “night of goodness.” Like the fiesta, the Noche Buena is also a time for extended

families to gather together at one house to partake of the feast.

 He had been delayed on the road for several hours because the Cochero had beaten up, he saw that the

Cochero endures all pain and maltreatments in silence.

 The Cochero asks as to whether the correct foot of the ruler is free. Basilio is confused. The Cochero

clarifies the legend of the ruler detained in the cave of San Mateo who will one day free them from

persecution. The Cochero is halted a second time for his carriage that has no light, so Basilio decided to

continue by walking. After making his way to Capitan Tiago’s house he receives news from the caretaker

that Kabesang Tales has been abducted. 

In this chapter each inadequacy and mistake had an equivalent discipline, like the Cochero, Sinong who

was more than once beaten by the common watchmen or Guardia civil for things he didn't do like

conveying his cedula and changing the light of his lamp. In the event that he had not failed to bring his

cedula, he would not have been beaten by regular people. They additionally saw that his lamp appeared to

have no light. What is considerably more troubling is that his kindred Filipinos are the ones who are

giving his discipline. Back then, Filipinos filled in as common as Guardia Civil.

They will follow everything their leader orders regardless of whether their fellow Filipinos get discipline.

Since the Filipinos at the time were under the standard of the Spaniards, they lost the ability to secure and

shield their fellow Filipinos.

I. Characters Involved

 Basilio - he was the main character in chapter 5, who returned to the

town of San Diego according to the orders of his father, Kapitan Tiyago

 Sinong - he is the Cochero or driver of Basilio’s cart who was beaten by

the civilian after he lost his cedula and when the lamp on his carromata

had gone out.

 Guardia Civil - who was beat two times the Chochero named Sinong

after losing a cedula, peacemaker and law enforcement force during the

Spanish colonial 

 Simoun - He is a jeweller who offers jewelries to salve and alperes and

also Basilio saw him talking to Captain Basilio and the Alperes at

Captain Basilio's house

 Kapitan Tiago - the owner of the house where Basilio are staying in San

Diego

 Padre Silve - one of Simoun's interlocutor in Kapitan Basilio

 Alperes: powerful person in San Diego

 Kapitan Basilio- The one who held noche buena at his house

 Kabesang Tales - he was the one who kidnapped according to the

caretaker.
 II. Chapter Summary

It was late at night when Christmas eve processions commenced when Basilio arrived in San Diego. He

got delayed along the way because the Cochero, a rig driver, forgot his cedula. The reason for the delay is

because the Guardia Civil had to beat up the cochero first. The Image of methusalem was paraded in the

processions which followed by the three kings. At the end of Procession was the blessed Virgin Mary.

When the procession ended, The Guardia Civil noticed that the Cochero carriage had no lights and they

beat up the cochero again. So, Basilio decided to just walk. Among the houses Basilio passed it seemed

that only the Capitan Basilio house was lively, and he saw that Kapitan tiago was speaking to someone.

He saw that Kapitan Basilio was speaking to a parish priest, Alperes and Simoun. Capitan Basilio said

that they will go to Tiana to examine Simoun’s Jewelry. The Alperes requested a watch chain and the

priest requested a couple of earrings. Basilio found that Simoun was horrendous on the grounds that

Simoun had the option to work together in the Philippines. 

Basilio is regarded in the home of Capitan Tiago and converses with the caretaker, who regards Basilio in

view of his smoothness while doing a medical procedure. Basilio goes to Capitan Tiago's home and the

caretaker tells him regarding the kidnapping of Kabesang Tales. In the wake of hearing the story, Basilio

doesn't want to eat any longer since he loses his hunger.

III. Implied Topic Covered in this Chapter

The problems presented in the El Filibusterismo are present in our current society: the unfair

treatment, just like what happened to Sinong who was beaten up by the Guardia Civil, they’re

a similarities in the people who have been caught because of not obeying the quarantine
 protocols,some of them had been experience unfair treatment. The abuse of power, poverty

and no freedom of speech or red tagging who people saying or sharing their opinions or

thoughts about the government. This kind of incident shows a violence because of having a

higher position in the society, they never thought of who will be hurt for them just to acquire

position and appraisal. The poverty is still remain until today especially the world are still in

the middle of the pandemic. A lot of people lose their jobs and the economy of the country is

getting worse. Some of the politicians abuse the power or use their position to red tag or use

it to the people who disagree with their opinions or law that they created.

b. Interpretation of a Junior High School Teacher in Chapter V

Our Junior High School Teacher said that the application of the law enforced by the government must be

obeyed by the people. Although it can be said that the punishment imposed on the offenders is not fair,

there is discipline so that the violation will not be repeated and they will learn to obey or follow the

command.

Strengthening leaders is already part of society and is still not missing today. Likewise, asking/buying

anything for free is also one of the diseases of the society inherited from the Spaniards. This can be seen

in chapter 5 of El Filibusterismo.

Basilio's visit to San Diego is a tradition of us Filipinos that wherever we go in the world, we will look

and still look at the origin. Basilio witnessed the collapse of the former town, no development, no

progress. This is because fellow Filipinos continue to enslave foreigners and do not care about the future

to fight for freedom and homeland.

c. Personal Reflection
The novels especially the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo created by our National Hero Jose Rizal

show that it has an impact on our current society because of its preserver cultures, beliefs and traditions.

Filipinos will showcase their devotion for its nation and have knowledgeable ideas. It shows that the

Filipinos opened their eyes because of Dr. Jose Rizal and it creates a history of our country. A history that

is never forgotten and every Filipino commemorates what Rizal did for the country every year. It is

testimony and proof to his greatness that the ideals, love and principles to his writings and death still

provide inspiration to our countrymen.  Filipinos learned to fight for their own territory or country. They

learned to have unity, loyalty and love for the country and fight for their rights and not be scared for the

people or country who wants to set foot on our land and have a healthy and fair government. El

Filibusterismo is the novel that gives clues or hints that government today is now seen in our current

society.

The novel is too radical for the national hero because it is a way to demonstrate that the state is using the

El Filibusterismo to keep administering the autonomous consciousness of the Filipinos. It is likewise the

reason to show that a technique in critics of this novel can be utilized to get the state interested in the field

of belief system. The state intentionally pushes the patriotism of Rizal using the arrangement of

schooling. The state does this from numerous points of view.

We believe radicalism can change to the country. If most of the citizens of the country really want to

change for the better. Especially if the problems in the government still remain such as the corruption,

poverty, injustice, and abuse of power.  Just like Jose Rizal did for our country. He created two novels

Noli Me tangere and El Filibusterismo to enlighten and open the eyes of Filipinos to see the real situation

of the country in the hands of Spanish. He advocates for Filipinos to fight for the right for their freedom.

Aside from radicalism, filipino must have unity, discipline, respect and know their limitations.
Rizal did not change his thoughts about his purpose. He thought instead of bloody fights or revolutionary

he unmasked the reforms and created novels about government. His beliefs that violence must not prevail

but in a silent way are revolutionary.

d. Comparison with Noli Me Tangere

i.  The Intended Messages of Both Novels

Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo have similarities in terms of aim and purpose. They

both inform or enlighten the Filipinos that they abused. The messages of the two famous

works are that Filipinos should be open and aware about wrongdoings, unreasonable policies,

corruption, poverty, injustice, abuse and cruelty of the government. They are slaves in their

own country and also teach Filipinos to fight for what is right, fight for freedom, values of

wisdom, and loving our country.

ii. Differences between the Two Novels

 The Noli Me Tangere and its sequel El Filibusterismo have differences with each other.The

Noli Me Tangere is romantic novel and its story is about love for our motherland.

The sequel of Noli Me Tangere, which is the El Filibusterismo is a political novel about

revenge and revolution. It is where Crisostomo Ibarra in Noli Me Tangere disguised a

wealthy jeweler in San Diego.

The story's protagonist is Basilio, as Crisostomo Ibarra had returned as another character. The

sequel's enemies continue as before. This time, Jose Rizal's considerations of radicalism and

furnished disobedience presently littered the pages of the novel, giving the readers his

feelings and perspectives on the matter. As Noli Me Tangere finished on a harsh note, El

Filibusterismo proceeded with it with a significantly more disheartening viewpoint. This tale
 showed Jose Rizal's resolved conviction in his central goal to look for changes rather than a

furnished insubordination. It is additionally upheld by the completion of El Filibusterismo,

where Simoun ended it all by harming and admitted his arrangements to Padre Florentino,

who exculpated him of his transgressions. One of his admissions expressed that the nation is

genuinely not yet prepared for an equipped disobedience

IV. References

1. Estrella, S. (2019, October 24). The Origins of Noche Buena and Other Filipino Holiday

Feasts. Pepper.Ph. https://pepper.ph/origins-filipino-feast/